Chapter 748: The Fighting General

"To protect Your Majesty, even if it costs me my life, I would not hesitate. However, the duty of palace guard is a heavy responsibility, and Your Majesty knows my temperament—rough and reckless. I truly cannot bear such a post. Not only would I fail to handle matters properly, but I would also easily lose decorum and offend Your Majesty."

"Moreover, on the battlefield, I can equally serve Your Majesty loyally, slaying enemies and earning merit. I beg Your Majesty to grant my wish!" Facing the Emperor's faint questioning, Zhang Qiong did not panic, and still answered bluntly and directly.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou could not help but laugh, laughing heartily: "Who said you Zhang Qiong are but a mere warrior, crude and inarticulate? I see that you are actually rough on the outside but fine on the inside. Your words are reasonable and measured, and you are quite self-aware!"

Seeing the Emperor in a good mood, Zhang Qiong also broke into a smile, looking very much like a bear-man. The Emperor's words sounded pleasant to his ears; in these two years as a guard, the greatest praise he had received was merely for his valor.

However, the smile gradually faded. Liu Chengyou crossed his arms, his gaze clear and cold, appraising Zhang Qiong with amusement, and still spoke softly: "Let me ask you—arranging the guard duty of five hundred men already gives you such a headache and seems so complicated. On the battlefield, how many soldiers do you think you could command? Three hundred? Two hundred? Or a hundred, fifty?"

Facing Liu Chengyou's question, Zhang Qiong was stunned, a trace of bewilderment flashing across his face.

Before he could answer, Liu Chengyou asked: "I roughly know what you think. When fighting, one leads from the front, fights fiercely, and fears not death. That is how you rose through the ranks and entered the sight of the generals and myself.

But you have also participated in several major battles. On the battlefield, have you not seen what it is like when great armies clash in fierce combat? How to coordinate and deploy, how to transmit military orders, how tactics cooperate... Are these matters simple?

You are no longer a squad leader or a platoon captain—you are my imperial guard general. If you wish to become a great commander, what you need to consider henceforth is commanding thousands upon thousands of troops. If you find even a few miscellaneous duties burdensome, how can you achieve greatness?"

Hearing the Emperor's words, Zhang Qiong slowly came to understand, grinning foolishly: "So that is what Your Majesty means. However, I am still better at leading men in battle. Command and coordination—there are others to do that."

The corner of his mouth twitched. Liu Chengyou sighed and said leisurely: "Still, you Zhang Qiong are indeed brave and fierce, with few rivals in the entire army. I will naturally employ you according to your abilities and develop your strengths.

Each man has his own aspirations. If you are set on being sent out as a general, I will also understand your thoughts and not suppress or obstruct you. A fierce tiger cannot be confined to a cage for long. You, Zhang Qiong, this fierce tiger, may indeed be more suited to charging and killing on the battlefield."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Hearing this, Zhang Qiong beamed with joy: "Your Majesty is wise!"

Liu Chengyou's expression remained calm, but his eyes clearly showed signs of deliberation, as if considering how to arrange things. His eyes darted, then he looked at him again: "For this northern inspection tour, how about I leave you in the north? Or, if there is a place or army you wish to go to, I can also consider your opinion!"

Seeing the Son of Heaven so reasonable, Zhang Qiong was even more delighted and said: "Then I will not stand on ceremony! I wish to go to the Hanzhong great camp!"

"What, you want to go join Xiang Xun?" Liu Chengyou smiled faintly.

Zhang Qiong explained: "The two Chuan regions are full of natural barriers. When we attack in the future, hard battles will be unavoidable. I have also clashed with the Shu army several times and am fairly familiar with them. Besides, the north has been peaceful for many years—who knows when war will break out. I also want to go to Hanzhong to earn merit..."

"These words are not false at all—quite honest!" Liu Chengyou commented: "Once the northern inspection tour ends, I will send you to the Hanzhong great camp!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhang Qiong stood tall and straight.

Appraising him, Liu Chengyou suddenly asked with interest: "Zhang Qiong, tell me—is it truly because you find the guard duties too complicated and beyond your ability that you wish to leave the capital?"

"I dare not deceive Your Majesty—that is one of the reasons!" Zhang Qiong said.

"Oh? Then what other reasons are there?" Liu Chengyou said.

At this, a hint of embarrassment appeared on Zhang Qiong's face: "The other reason is that in the south, only Shu and Tang remain, and they will surely be unable to withstand the Great Han's military might. If I stay long in the Eastern Capital, I fear there will soon be no battles to fight and no merit to earn!"

Liu Chengyou laughed again: "You truly are an honest one! This realm will eventually see peace. Tell me then—when the world is unified, when the state has no more wars, when there are no battles for you to fight and no merit for you to earn, what do you plan to do?"

"If by then I have not died on the battlefield, I will take Your Majesty's rewards and salary, return home to buy some fields and a house, then drink wine and eat meat, practice martial arts and go hunting..." After thinking a moment, Zhang Qiong answered.

"Your demands are not high!" Commenting, Liu Chengyou waved his hand: "You may go!"

"This general takes his leave!"

"Oh, right!" Calling him back again, Liu Chengyou said in a warning tone: "I know your temperament is blunt and your temper fierce, that you do not get along well with your colleagues, and that you have a bad record of beating and cursing soldiers. I hope you can keep these faults in mind and correct them as soon as possible."

"Thank you for Your Majesty's instruction!"

Zhang Qiong withdrew in high spirits, his face radiant, but Liu Chengyou could not help shaking his head. This Zhang Qiong—brave he may be, but in the end he was merely a fighting general, hard to put to great use. His character flaws were obvious: no cunning, straight as an arrow. Judging from his attitude and conduct, he was not even qualified to be a gatekeeper or bodyguard.

Frowning in thought for a moment, Liu Chengyou summoned Zhang Dejun and instructed: "Go, notify Shi Shouxin to enter the city and take over the imperial guard! As for Zhang Qiong, send him directly back to the Eastern Capital to seek arrangements from the Bureau of Military Affairs!"

"Yes!"

Stepping past several attending palace maids who bowed, he entered the simply decorated hall. Empress Fu was waiting with the three imperial princes, and a spread of dishes sat on the food table, still steaming.

"I'm not late, am I!" Liu Chengyou put on a warm smile.

"Compared to when you notified us, you're nearly a quarter-hour late. Still, the food hasn't gone cold yet!" Empress Fu glanced at Liu Chengyou.

As their legal mother, Liu Xu and Liu Fang, who accompanied the imperial entourage, were also cared for by Empress Fu. At this moment, Liu Fang was tilting his head back with pouted lips, obediently having medicine applied by the elder Lady Fu, while Liu Xu personally held a medicine bowl at his side, and Liu Yang watched curiously nearby.

"What happened to him?" Liu Chengyou asked.

Empress Fu very carefully wiped the medicinal ointment around Liu Fang's lips, saying: "The north is dry and windy. He hasn't adapted to the climate—his lips are swollen, chapped, and cracked. I specially ordered someone to prepare some medicine!"

Looking at Liu Fang, the little boy had a bitter face, looking pitiful. His small lips were slightly swollen, red beyond normal, as if he had eaten a pot of chili peppers. After the ointment was applied, they were even glossy and shiny, and his tongue could not help licking upward.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou could not help laughing: "He's had too much wind, hasn't he!"

The elder Lady Fu could not help saying: "If it weren't for you letting him ride horses, exposed to wind and sun, alternating between cold and warm—how else would it have come to this?"

Liu Chengyou was somewhat unconvinced, reaching out to pat Liu Fang's head: "Well, do you still want to ride the big horse?"

Liu Fang shook his head very decisively.

"Why?" Liu Chengyou was a bit curious.

"There's always someone holding the reins for me, sometimes even holding me. I can't gallop, and I still get blown by the wind..." Liu Fang muttered with a red face.

"This kid—already wanting to run! If you really fell off, how would I explain to your mother?" Liu Chengyou rubbed his head and chuckled.

"Let's eat!" the elder Lady Fu called out.

"No talking while eating, no speaking while sleeping"—that did not exist for Liu Chengyou's family. Seeing the fatigue on Liu Chengyou's face that was almost impossible to hide, the elder Lady Fu picked a piece of meat for him and said with concern: "You've been traveling all this way, inquiring into governance and people's conditions. You've worked hard. Rest a couple of days in Cangzhou!"

Feeling Empress Fu's concern, Liu Chengyou shook his head and answered calmly: "I've endured hardship for so many years—this is nothing. Besides, these matters are precisely the duties and mission of me, the Emperor!"

Empress Fu gazed at Liu Chengyou with her beautiful eyes and gently reminded him: "After we set out, I seem to have heard you say that this trip was for leisure and relaxation..."

"Is that so?" Liu Chengyou asked back very naturally. Recalling, he seemed to have indeed said something similar, then said: "I asked Chu Zhaofu—Qingchi is only a little over a hundred li from the Bohai Sea. Tomorrow, let's go see the great sea, see its vastness and grandeur, see the sun rise above the horizon..."